In Honor of Fathers

“…I’ve made it my business to observe fathers and daughters. And I’ve seen some incredible, beautiful things. Like the little girl who’s not very cute – her teeth are funny, and her hair doesn’t grow right, and she’s got on thick glasses – but her father holds her hand and walks with her like she’s a tiny angel that no one can touch. He gives her the best gift a woman can get in this world: protection. And the little girl learns to trust the man in her life. And all the things that the world expects from women – to be beautiful, to soothe the troubled spirit, heal the sick, care for the dying, send the greeting card, bake the cake – allof those things become the way we pay the father back for protecting us…”
― Adriana Trigiani, Big Stone Gap

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and a wonderful Father’s Day! You may have read my recent post in honor of Mother’s Day, in which I shared my story of having been given up for adoption at the age of 10 months and subsequently adopted by my loving parents.

My Dad, sitting in the social worker’s office with my Mom in 1983 at the young age of 25, was presented with a photo of me. His reaction was immediately one of an immense need to protect me. “Where is she? Is she safe? When can I see her?” he asked. He said he couldn’t wait to be with me and to have me under his care.

One night during my first week at home with them, I was fussy when it was time to go to sleep. My Dad held me in the rocking chair in my room, and says that we had a moment he would never forget. He said that I stared up at him, wide-eyed, like this little lost soul and in that moment he vowed to love me, protect me and guide me every day of his life.

He has kept his promise.

It is because of his belief in me that I have learned to pursue my dreams without self-doubt. It is because of his protection that I learned a tremendous amount of self respect and boundaries as a young person, which has evolved into my fiercely protecting my girls and teaching them the same.

His love has remained steadfast, unconditional, and an anchor to me in this wild and wonderful life that I’ve been given.

It is because of our special relationship that I grew up and married a man who has turned out to be an incredible father to our daughters.

My Dad reads every blog post and has always been my biggest supporter and biggest fan. I love him so much and I am so grateful for him in my life- for all that he has done for me and all that he continues to do. I won the Dad lottery that day when he was handed my photo!

Here’s to all of the fathers- the men who show up, who love, who dedicate themselves to raising strong, happy, healthy children. I wouldn’t be who I am today without mine.